Can your children prepare a simple meal on their own, or will they starve if no one is around to make them something as simple as a boiled egg or pasta? Can they ask for help when they need it, and do they know who to ask? Can they do age-appropriate chores without you or […]
Autonomy and responsibility
Science Says We’re More Helicopter Parents Than We Think: Here’s How to Stop
No parent wants to be defined as a helicopter parent, the kind of parent who’s always hovering over their kids. But science says that many of us do more helicopter parenting than we realize. In a recent survey, researchers at the University of Michigan conducted a national survey of 1044 parents of children between the […]
When Parents Push Too Hard
We’ve all pushed our kids to do things they initially resist, to try new adventures, to learn new skills, or just because we know they can do more, be more. It seems virtually impossible to parent without pushing your children “out of their comfort zones. But as parents, it’s not always easy to know when […]
10 things to do to make your child feel special
Teaching responsibility at home
There is a common belief that responsibility is inborn. This belief is false. Some children are naturally responsible, but these children are rare. Learning to be responsible rarely happens by itself. It must be taught, practiced, and learned, but teaching responsibility at home is possible. So now we know that children can be taught to […]